Hicks: Ariel Winter was allegedly denied food by mother

The Ariel Winter saga has more drama than any soap opera. The most recent developments are almost too much to keep up with. Here goes:

Ariel's mother said the 14-year-old actress attacked her when she confronted her about her relationship with 18-year-old Cameron Palatas. She claims she caught two in bed together. But friends of Ariel say the romance, which is now over, never got intimate. Sources from Ariel's show "Modern Family" said Ariel's mom, Chrystal Workman, was a "terror" on the set and they had to sneak Ariel food because her mother wouldn't let her eat.

The lawyer for Ariel's 34-year-old sister Shanell Gray, who has had temporary custody of Ariel since Oct. 3, said Workman actually attacked Ariel. And TMZ reported Tuesday that Gray told the judge last month that her mother physically abused her. Her mother denied it, and said Gray actually ran away with a gang member and she found her in a crack house.

Whew. That all came out in one day. When they get to the clones, Bigfoot and space aliens, we'll let you know.

TMZ cited a source from "Modern Family," who has been in "constant contact" with Ariel for more than a year, saying producers wanted Workman banned from the set for making Ariel's life hell. She allegedly berated her for her physical appearance, saying her ears were too big and she looked ugly in her clothes. She also blocked Ariel from eating anything but egg whites and raw veggies. The crew supposedly hatched a plan to sneak the teen food when her mother wasn't looking.

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She also supposedly complained loudly about Ariel's salary, saying her daughter needed more to pay for their house, her agents, managers, and publicists.

Right. The kid was the one who needed all that money.

According to a transcript from last month's hearing, TMZ reported Gray's lawyer said "The child (Ariel) is, apparently, struck repeatedly, slapped, hit, pushed, not so as to leave marks. Mother is smart enough not to do that."

Workman countered by saying "She is an actress so I'm sure she can cry at the drop of a hat." The lawyer also said Workman "sexualizes the child," and showed the judge a picture of Ariel "dressed up to show off her breasts and otherwise."